Former Pakistan captain puts onus on senior players to step up at Qualifier
Sana Mir wants Pakistan's experienced players to lead the way and help the side earn their place at this year's World Cup.
Former captain Sana Mir believes Pakistan's senior players must step up during the upcoming ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier to ensure the side continues their streak of appearing at every 50-over World Cup since 2009.
Pakistan have appeared at the last four editions of the 50-over tournament, but have their work cut out to make it five on the trot and earn a place at this year's event in India given they are one of six sides fighting for two places at the tournament proper during this month's Qualifier on home soil.
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The side must finish in the top two places at the six-team Qualifier event to book their tickets to the tournament and Sana thinks Pakistan's experienced players must step up and show the way.
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Pakistan will be led by skipper Fatima Sana at the Qualifier event and will be boosted by the return of key pacer Diana Baig from injury and the inclusion of experienced trio Sidra Amin, Nashra Sundhu and Aliya Riaz among their 15-player squad.
And Sana wants to see the senior players step up and lead by example to ensure Pakistan earn their spot at this year's World Cup.
“I’m always of the opinion that if you want to set up youngsters to succeed, they have to learn from senior players,” she said.
“There is Sidra Ameen at the top, Muneeba (Ali) has good experience, Aliya (Riaz) is in the middle with Fatima Sana and Diana (Baig) is back in good rhythm with the ball.
“In the ODI format, the batting needs to be there for any team to have consistent results and the youngsters will have to step up. Hopefully they will be able to execute when it matters.”
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Pakistan's first match at the Qualifier comes against Ireland at Gaddafi Stadium on April 9. before the side faces Scotland, West Indies, Thailand and Bangladesh all within the space of eight days.
Sana believes there are no weak sides at the Qualifier and is expecting the event to be an extremely tight battle given what is at stake.
“It will be a tough competition. West Indies have done brilliantly in the last couple of years, especially under Hayley Matthews, Bangladesh have done quite well in ODIs in the last couple of years, they have beaten India in an ODI and done well against South Africa and Ireland," she noted.
“For Pakistan, I feel there are quite a lot of changes. Fatima Sana is a good captain, she has done really well since taking on that role, but it will not be an easy competition.
“Ireland have looked good, they were able to beat England last year, Scotland have also played well under Kathryn Bryce, they have more international and league exposure than before.
“You can never write Thailand off with the work ethic they have, they put in so much hard work, and if more opportunities are given to Associate nations, they will rise up really quickly.
“With all these things put together, it will be a close tournament. West Indies are perhaps favourites but the rest are quite neck-and-neck.”
Pakistan squad: Fatima Sana (c), Najiha Alvi, Gull Feroza, Sidra Amin, Omaima Sohail, Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Sadia Iqbal, Nashra Sundhu, Muneeba Ali, Rameen Shamim, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Syeda Aroob Shah, Natalia Parvaiz, Sidra Nawaz